The Hunting Times

So the farmer that is renting our property W of us hired a helicopter to spray the field.  The helicopter landed at the curve in our driveway as it is flat and void of any power lines. While he was waiting on the tanker truck to arrive, Alex and I took Will to see it up close.  This was a certified big deal to a 4.5 year old. The pilot was very kind.  He came over and talked with us until the taker got there.  Then he lifted off and promptly landed on the truck to fill up.  Of course proper social distancing did occur. The tanks on the chopper are small, and he was only able to make two passes before he had to land and refill again. Will and Alex watched him spray from a safe distance so as not to get any chemicals on them. It was a good day! The pilot walking back to his bird after a quick chat. The helicopter on TOP of the pump truck, loading up on spray. We were close until it came time to spray.  Then we watched from the porch.

Yes, you read that correctly - Raspberry Deer Loin. In the July-August 2020 edition of Bugle magazine published by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, there is a recipe for "Elk Loin with Blackberry Sauce."  Originally published by Kristy Crabtree. I am out of elk loin, so I did the next best thing and substituted deer loin.  No fresh blackberries?  No worries - we have plenty of fresh raspberries on the farm.  Another good substitute.  Besides, grandkids Will and Hadley helped Grandma and me pick them (although I think more ended up on the ground than in our bucket from their "help."  Not that it matters one bit.  Making memories!). So tonight I prepared the dish, as modified, and shared it with Dad, Kathy, Alex, Nick & Shelby. Was it good?  You bet.  However, I do not think the work it takes outweighs just having grilled deer loin.  Of course I make a killer grilled deer loin - so that's part of it. Ok, here goes:  the modified...

The Winchester SX4 is my Go To shotgun for everything - clays, doves, ducks, geese, pheasants, whatever.  It is an awesome firearm.  The drawback?  There are multiple moving parts and a few of them like to collect carbon.  And this carbon sticks as if it were put on those parts with super glue! Specifically, the magazine tube and the gas piston are the main carbon collectors.  Those parts come out more black than silver & gold. The inner components of an SX3 / SX4 with highlights where carbon will form So what is my trick for cleaning those bits?  I drop the gas piston into my Hornady sonic cleaner.  Inside the cleaner I put in about a cup of Hornady's One Shot Sonic Clean Solution for gun parts, add some DI water, a couple squirts of Dawn liquid dish soap, and then top it off with a dash or two of the citrus version of Dr. Bronner's pure castile liquid soap.  I have found that the citrus Dr. Bronner's is awesome at removing grease and oil....

Note the spelling.  This is the pie you eat, not the computer. The black raspberries are coming on strong.  Sandy and I picked some Sunday and gave those to Pa Jerry & Boppum.  Sandy picked some Tuesday and gave those to Grandma Dammit.  Then yesterday, we picked again to get enough to make a raspberry pie for Pa Jerry. Pretty sure we have about half of what we need.  Not to worry, as we have gathered about a fifth of what we saw coming on.  There will be plenty, but there is also a price to pay... Your hands are going to get stained from the over-ripe berries that squish; your legs are going to get scratched; and for sure you are going to donate blood to the mosquitoes.  'Tis a small price to pay for some sweet berries. Aunt Meg - if you hurry and get up here, you may get to have 1/2 a piece of pie! Our stained hands and about half the makings of a raspberry pie